CARLOS BOOZER WON’T OPT OUT, WILL STAY WITH UTAH JAZZ

After insisting all season that he was certain to become a free agent this summer, Utah Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer has reversed course and announced that he’ll return for another season with the team.  Center/forward Mehmet Okur also declined to opt out and will be back with the Jazz, though his circumstances are different and he has been strongly leaning toward returning all along.

Boozer will earn $12.7 million next season, the last on his current contract while Okur will earn $9 million.  Carlos Boozer’s return is the most intriguing—last season while he was nursing his seemingly annual hamstring injury he indicated that free agency was a fait accompli:

"I'm opting out. No matter what, I'm going to get a raise regardless. I am going to opt out, I don't see why I wouldn't, I think it's a very good business decision for me and my family, but I'd also like to see what happens with the Jazz and stay here."

So what’s changed between now and then?  His agents are trying to rationalize the decision based on the negative economic environment limiting the money that owners are willing to spend, but the reality is that the interest in his services just wasn’t there.  After reneging on a verbal agreement to resign with Cleveland, he jumped to the Utah Jazz.  Since he’s been in Utah, he’s spent more time on the injured list than on the court.  When he hasn’t been injured, he’s put in an inconsistent effort.  He’s certainly got the talent to rank among the league’s elite power forwards—when he ‘comes to play’ he’s almost unstoppable. 

Ironically, there’s a lot more interest in his backup Paul Millsap.  Millsap played extremely well when Boozer’s latest injury forced him into the starting lineup, and his performance led many to tab him the power forward of the future for the team.  There are many similarities between Boozer and Jazz legend Karl Malone—they’re the same height, went to the same college and both hail from Louisiana.  Whether or not he ends up being in the same league as ‘The Mailman’ he’s become highly sought after around the league due to his age (24) and work ethic.  He may not have the intrinsic talent as Boozer, but he has a much better attitude and work ethic.

Jazz management had hoped that the ‘Boozer vs. Millsap’ situation would work itself out.  Unfortunately, Boozer’s decision to bypass free agency is ‘behind the scenes’ is another screwjob against his current team.  Now the Jazz are in a position where they have to pay Boozer a lot of money when they didn’t necessarily want him back, while trying to find a way to keep Millsap—a restricted free agent—in the fold.  Nevertheless, Jazz GM Kevin O’Conner tried to say the right things:

"We are excited that Carlos has decided to remain with the Jazz. We are hopeful he can continue to play at an All-Star level and will have an injury-free season."

Further complicating the Jazz’s decisions is the always touchy matter of public relations—a majority of Utah fans have grown sick of Boozer’s act and strongly want to see Millsap become the full time starting power forward.  Losing Millsap would infuriate the Utah fanbase, which leaves the team with a number of options—none of which are particularly good.  They can bite the bullet and let Millsap go.  They can resign both forwards and hope they get their money’s worth out of Boozer in a starting role.  Or they can make C-Booz one of the highest paid backups in the NBA.  A trade is a possibility, but it would be unlikely that they could move Boozer without eating some of his salary—in other words, it would solve their personnel dilemma but not their financial dilemma.